Garbi Schmidt Appointed New Chair of the ECMI Executive Board

The ECMI is delighted to announce the appointment of Prof. Garbi Schmidt as the new Chair of its Executive Board, effective May 1, 2025.

A valued member of the Board since 2015, Prof. Schmidt is transitioning into her new role after a thorough selection process conducted by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science. This appointment underscores Denmark's ongoing commitment to the ECMI as one of its founders and the one responsible for nominating the Chair.

Garbi Schmidt’s profile as Professor of Cultural Encounters at the University of Roskilde has long added a special expertise to the ECMI’s work. Her academic focus on minority integration and intercultural relations qualifies her uniquely to lead the ECMI into its next phase of development.

Under Prof. Schmidt’s leadership, the ECMI will continue its mission to address complex national minority issues across Europe and beyond. With a commitment to promoting peace, understanding, and cooperation through rigorous research and impactful initiatives, we are excited about the prospects her leadership will offer to enrich our community and achieve our objectives.

Prof. Schmidt will follow on from Prof. Jørgen Kühl (Europa-Universität Flensburg), who led the ECMI Executive Board for 12 years. Under his tenure, the Centre greatly expanded its activities, including the development of a new research cluster for Minority Issues in the Denmark-Germany Border Region. We are grateful to him for his long-standing commitment to the ECMI.